Apparatus for launching lifeboats



June 2, 1936. R. c. WILSON 2,042,753

APPARATUS FOR LAL NCHING LIFEBUATS Filed March 5, 1955 4 Shets-Sheet l June 2, 1936. R. c. WILSON APPARATUS FOR LAUNCHING LIFEBOATS 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 5,

'1. 15o P/C/VHFQ G M4 604/ June 2, 1936. R. c. WILSON APPARATUS FOR LAUNCHING LIFEBOATS Filed March 5, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 U Paw/7R0 G M4 6'0 -JvN June 2, 1936.

R. C. WILSON APPARATUS FOR LAUNCHING LIFEBOATS Filed March 5, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 2, 1936 UNITED STATES ATELNT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to devices or apparatus for launchin life boats from the decks of a vessel.

Heretofore it has been the practice to launch life boats by lowering them down the sides of a vessel by various mechanical and manual means,

which practice has been unsatisfactory and hazardous, inasmuch as the boats are often smashed against the vessel by a heavy sea with resulting damage to life and boats. Furthermore, the complicated system of tackles, pulleys and cables necessary to operate these life boats have necessitated a relatively large life boat crew which has proved confusing and cumbersome in an emergency, and adds to the delay in launching the boats. Due to their size and complex operating mechanisms these devices have appropriated valuable ship space for stowage purposes, thereby curtailing the space allotted to state rooms and promenade decks of large liners. These devices have also proved objectionable and undesirable due to their overhanging cradles and lowering frames which hamper the vessel in docking or maneuvering alongside another vessel.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a boat supporting unit for supporting the boats in an inverted position on the upper deck of a ship, from which position they may be swung outboard into upright position at a point opposite one of the lower decks preparatory to launching.

Another object of my invention is to provide a boat supporting unit for supporting two boats side by side in an inverted position on the upper deck of a ship, from which position they are swung outboard into upright position at a point opposite one of the lower decks, and provided with means whereby the inner boat may be launched from the same point on the supporting unit as the outer boat.

Another object is to provide an automatic motor or manually controlled life boat launching apparatus which will launch the boats safely when the vessel is at list of approximately fifteen degrees.

Another object is to provide a launching apparatus which will launch life boats from a lower level during average weather and from a higher level during rough weather.

Another object is to provide a launching apparatus which will require a comparatively small crew of three men to launch and restow each unit of two boats, thus simplifying and speeding up launching operations with more efliciency thereby permitting more life boat crew drilling during a voyage, which, at the same time, will be instrumental in familiarizing the passengers therewith which will prove advantageous in an emergency.

Another object is to provide a launching apparatus whereby the boat crews can report at boat loading stations below the boat stowage spaces, while the boats are being lowered thereto by remote control, thereby eliminating crew handling in breaking out of the boats with its resultin confusion and delay.

A further object is to provide a launching apparatus wherein the actual launching and sending away of the boats is controlled by an officer stationed nearby at the ship's rail, thereby preventing any danger of conflicting or misunderstanding of orders.

A further object is to provide a launching apparatus employing linked chain cables, thereby eliminating objectionable rope or wire cables which have a tendency to kink or become otherwise misshapen and jam the apparatus.

A further object is to provide a novel means for automatically locking the boat carrying apparatus in stowed or inoperative position.

Other and more specific objects and advantages will be apparent as the specification is considered in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment of the invention, in which:

Figure 1 is a view of the side of the ship showing a front elevation of the launching apparatus;

Figure 2 is a top plan view, partly in section, of the boats in stowed position;

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the carrying crane showing the automatic locking and driving means therefor;

Figure 4 is an enlarged side view of the looking means;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the carrying crane with the boats in loading position; and

Figure 6 is a plan view of one of the carrying crane arms with the boats in position preparatory to lowering.

- Referring more particularly to the drawings, in which similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, numeral I denotes two motor powered life boats A and B respectively. The boats I are adapted to rest in inverted position (as in Figure 1) upon a pair of relatively wide metal supporting standards or skids 2 of a substantially L-shaped metal carrying frame 3. The supporting standards 2 of the carrying frame 3 have two integrally formed vertical relatively wide metal rail arms 4, which arms are pivoted by means of bolts or the like 5 on their lower ends, to lugs or suitable brackets 6 on a ships deck I, adjacent the outboard edge thereof. The supporting standards 2 are provided with suitable stop blocks or lugs 8, at the outer ends thereof, for retaining the boats in stowed position. Recesses, or the like, 9 are provided in the outboard edge of a deck If into which the vertical rail arms fit when the carrying frame is in stowed or inoperative position, thereby presenting a flushed side to the vessel. Gripes or stop lashings II of suitable construction, preferably four in number, are fastened at one end to gripe hooks Il', positioned in the deck I, and extend over the inverted bottoms of the boats I and are hooked by means of gripe hooks 36 under pins 33, to be presently described, thereby lashing'the boats and carrying crane to the deck IS.

A remote controlled electric motor I3 is suitably positioned, for the purpose of illustration, on the side of a deck house M. A worm and gear mechanism I5, carried by a rotating shaft l6 and actuated by the motor I3, is suitably suspended from the underside of the upper deck I I]. A main drive shaft I? extending through the worm and gear housing I5 is suitably journalled in hearings or the like I8, positioned in the cross beams I9 of the upper deck I 0.

The drive shaft II carries a toothed gear, or chain wildcat 26 at both ends thereof, which gears engage and operate two main launching chains or falls 2|. The idle ends of the chains are adapted to be received and stowed in two vertical pipes 22, positioned below the gears 2!] and extending down into the hold of the vessel. If desired, suitable idlers or rollers, not shown, may be suitably positioned adjacent the gears, thereby serving to prevent the launching chains from slipping from the gears.

Two substantially U-shaped floating levers or bell cranks 24, positioned in the recesses 9 of the upper deck Ill, above and to the rear of the gears 20, are pivoted at their inner ends 25 by means of axles 26 suitably journalled in brackets or ears 21. A relatively short spring 21, connected to the inner ends of the bell cranks, and to a suitable bracket in the deck I 0, serves to return the crank levers to normal position. The bell cranks 24 carry two rollers or fairleaders 28 at the outer upper ends 29 thereof, which rollers are mounted on axles 30, extended as at 37, suitably journalled in the bell crank 24. The inner upper ends SI of the fulcrumed ends 25 of the crank arms are connected to and actuate two rods or links 32, which in turn are connected to and slidably operate two pins 33, suitably mounted in apertures 34 of brackets 35, positioned on the inner edge of the deck II]. The hooked free ends 36 of the gripes or stop lashings I I hook or fit under the outer ends 38 of the pins 33, when the latter pins are in closed position, that is, when the boats are in stowed or inverted position. The main launching chains or falls 2|, engaging the gears or Wildcats 29, pass over the rollers or fairleaders 28 and extend over two sheaves 34a, suitably supported in the supporting standards 2, and are fastened by means of suitable releasing hooks, not shown, to the boats I. The supporting standards 2 are provided with beveled lugs or flanges 39 which engage the extended axle ends 31 of the rollers or fairleaders 28, thereby depressing the rollers and causing the extended axles 31 thereof to engage the lugs 39 and locking the boats in their stowed or inoperative position.

In order to automatically launch or lower the boats, the motor is switched on by remote control, from the pilot house or other suitable station. By rotation of the successive shafts I6 and Il, the gears or wildcats 29 are rotated thereby causing the linked launching chains H to be tightened up on the gears which causes the depressing or lowering of the rollers 28 and the disengaging of their extended axles 31 from the lugs or flanges 39 of the supporting standards, thereby unlocking or freeing the standards. At the same time the depressing of the rollers 28 automatically withdraws the pins 33 from the brackets 35 and causes the hooks 36 of the gripes I I to be released, thereby unlashing the boats and supporting standards from the upper deck I6. The continued tightening of the launching chains causes the carrying crane and boats to be swung upwardly in an arc until the chains are relatively perpendicular to the deck, at which point a suitable switch 42, positioned on the deck rail E3 is thrown to reverse the motor. If desired, a suitable switch, not shown, may be suitably positioned in the path of the chain falls, whereby the motor will be automatically reversed. The reversal of the motor causes the Wildcats 29 to reverse, whereby the chains are payed out or slackened away, thereby lowering the boats outwardly and downwardly to their lower deck lever Ia loading stations, as shown in Figure 1. When, in lowering the boats, the vertical rail arms 4 reach the ships side, a switch lever 39, suitably positioned in the ships side, is contacted thereby automatically shutting off the motor. Suitable pivoted hooks or the like 4i positioned on the deck, may be clamped against the carrying crane to firmly lash the latter to the side of the vessel.

The relatively wide metal supporting standards 2 and rail arms 4 are provided with a plurality of rungs or grill members 5611, to provide a walkway for the crew who aid in loading the passengers into the respective life boats. When life boat A is ready for launching, an operator, preferably stationed on boat-loading deck Ia, throws the switch lever 42, thereby starting the motor in reverseand lowering A boat down to the water. The launching chains 21 are released from their respective boat launching latches 44 of usual construction by a member of the crew stationed at each end of the boat.

A sliding track or skid groove 45 is built into the supporting standards 2 by means of angle metal frames or the like 46, upon which tracks or skids, guide arms 41' of boat supporting carriages 48 are adapted to slide. Boat B is removably connected to the sliding supporting carriages 48 by threaded jack screws 49 which are 'threadedly received therethrough. Boat B may be loaded at the same time as boat A, whereupon the latter boat being lowered, boat B is lowered approximately three or four inches at each end by rotating the jack screws 49 until its gunwales clear or free the retaining lugs or stop blocks 8, at which time the boat is ready to be moved outboard. The disengaged launching chains 2| from boat A are hauled up and fastened to suitable safety pins or hooks 5!! on boat B, whereupon the chains are tightened by the motor, and the boat is immediately pulled outboard to the position occupied by boat A. When loaded, the boat is lowered to the water and released from the chains 2| by suitable safety levers of usual construction, not shown.

Should the lifeboats return to the vessel after effecting a rescue or the like, boat B is preferably the first to be hoisted from the water to the supporting standards 2 by connecting the launching chains, as described, and starting the motor; then returning the boat inboard by reversing the heretofore described operation. The jack screws 49 are tightened up and the boat lifted approximately two or three inches to be firmly positioned by the retaining lugs 8. Boat A may then be hauled up by the launching chains until it reaches the supporting standards 2. The continued hauling or tightening of the chains causes the whole carrying crane and boats to be lifted up until the chains 2! are relatively perpendicular to the deck ID, at which point the motor is reversed by throwing the reversing switch 42 and the crane lowered. In reversing the carrying crane to the deck ID, the lugs 39- of the supporting standards will engage and depress the rollers 28, as described, thereby automatically locking the carrying crane and boats in stowed position. The gripe or stop lashings H may then be readily positioned over the boats by members of the crew and the hooked ends 36 thereof fitted under the extended ends of the pins 33.

During stormy weather it is often a hazardous undertaking to launch life boats at the normal lower deck level, as there is the ever present danger of the waves striking the boats. When it is desired to launch at a higher deck level the crane will be lowered until the rail arms 4 are level with deck I, at which position the motor is stopped and an extra pair of heavy guys 52 stored in boat B for the purposes of illustration, are connected at one end by suitable hooks 52a to the rungs 56a, and at their other end to suitably positioned clasp hooks 53 on deck l0, thereby firmly retaining the carrying crane in an elevated position. Boat A may then be lowered on the launching chains until it is freely suspended beneath boat B at the end of the rail arms, where it may readily be loaded and lowered away. After boat A has left the vessel the launching cables may be hoisted and the ends hooked into the launching pins 59 of boat B. The boat is then hoisted a few inches until its weight is on the launching chains, thereby permitting the disengaging of the jack screws 49. The slackening of the launching chains lowers the boat to its loading position beneath the ends of the rail arms, from where it is lowered when ready.

In order to launch the boats when the vessel is at a list of approximately fifteen degrees, the supporting arms 2 of the carrying crane are provided with relatively short metal folding arms 54, pivotally connected as at 55, adjacent the ends of the supporting arms. When the boat is at a list and the life boats are in stowed position, the metal folding arms 54 are pulled downwardly into upright position. The outer ends of the arms are slotted, as at 55a, whereby the launching chains are sl'ackened to permit them to be inserted through the slotted ends 55a of the arms. Therefore, when the carrying crane is in launching position, the chains passing over the upright arms 54 will lower the boats vertically, thereby overcoming the list of the vessel.

The outer end of the rotating shaft I6 of the motor installation is provided with a suitable gear wheel 56 which is adapted to be manually controlled by a suitable chain fall 51, whereby the drive shaft H and chain Wildcats 20 may be driven by hand in the event the motor installation becomes damaged or out of order in an emergency.

By reason of the herein described launching apparatus both life boats are adapted to be lowered from their stowed position on the upper deck to their loading deck positions la in the relatively short period of approximately thirty seconds. It is to be understoodv that, while I have described as a preferred embodiment of my apparatus a double life boat launching means, it is also adaptable for use with a single boat, or more than two, should this be desirable.

While I have in the present instance shown and described preferred embodiments of my invention which will give in practice satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that the same are susceptible of modification or rearrangement in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention,

What I claim is:

1. A life boat launching apparatus, comprising substantially L-shaped pivoted supporting davits adapted to have life boats stowed thereon in inverted position, power means for moving said frames outboard to place said boats in normal loading position, flexible cables connected to said power means and one of said boats for actuating said davits, pivoted means for locking said davits in and disengaging said davits from their stowed position, said means being adapted to be actuated by said cables.

2. A life boat launching apparatus, comprising substantially L-shaped pivoted supporting davits adapted to have life boats stowed thereon in inverted position, power means for moving said davits outboard to place said boats in upright position, flexible cables connected to said power means and one of said boats for raising and lowering said frames and boats, flexible means for lashing said boats in stowed position, means for automatically locking said davits in and disengaging said davits and flexible locking means from their stowed position when said power means is operated.

3. A life boat launching apparatus, comprising a pair of substantially L-shaped pivoted supporting members adapted to have life boats stowed thereon in inverted position, power means for vertically rotating said members to place the life boats in normal position beyond the side of the vessel for loading, said means comprising cable drums mounted on said power means, flexible cables operatively connected to said drums and extending to said supporting members, said cables adapted to be disengageably connected to said boats, means actuated by said flexible cables for locking and releasing said supporting members to lower members to launching position.

4. A life boat launching apparatus, comprising a pair of substantially L-shaped pivoted supporting members adapted to have life boats stowed thereon in inverted position, power means for vertically rotating said members to a position against the side of the vessel to place the life boats in normal loading position beyond the side of the vessel, said means comprising two cable drums mounted on said power means, flexible cables operatively connected to said drums and extending to said members, said cables adapted to be disengageably connected to said boats, pivoted means adjacent said drums, said flexible cables being adapted to actuate said pivoted means for locking and releasing said supporting 'members to lower or stow said members.

5. A life boat launching apparatus, comprising a pair of substantially L-shaped pivoted frame supporting members adapted to have life boats stowed thereon in inverted position, geared power means for vertically rotating and lowering said members to a position against the side of the vessel to place the life boats in normal loading position beyond the side of the vessel, said means comprising two cable drums mounted on said power means, flexible ,cables operatively connected to said drums and extending to said members, said cables adapted to be disengageably connected to said boats, flexible lashing cables for retaining the life boats in stowed position, pivoted locking members adjacent said drums, means on said supporting members adapted to engage said pivoted members, said flexible cables being adapted to actuate said pivoted locking members for releasing said flexible lashing cables and said supporting members when launching said boats.

6. In a life boat launching apparatus, the combination with a pair of substantially L-shaped supporting members hinged to swing outwardly, means for operating said members comprising a main shaft, a pair of cable drums mounted thereon, gear mechanism on said main shaft, a

motor having driving connections with said geared main shaft, cables operatively connected with said cable drums and extending tosaid supporting members, said cables adapted to be detachably connected to a life boat, means adjacent said cable drums for locking and disengaging said members, said means being adapted to be actuated by said cables.

7. In a life boat launching apparatus, the combination with a pair of L-shaped frame supporting members hinged to swing outwardly, means for operating said members, comprising a main shaft, a pair of cable drums mounted thereon, gear mechanism on said main shaft, a motor having driving connections with said geared main shaft, flexible controlling cables operatively connected with said cable drums and arranged to pass through said supporting members, said cables adapted to be detachably connected to a life boat, pivoted spring means adjacent said drums for locking and disengaging said supporting members, said means being adapted to be actuated by said controlling cables.

RICHARD CLARKE WILSON. 25, 

